He added that preliminary investigations had uncovered large scale abuse in some sub-metropolitan areas. He told journalists that general counterfoil receipts meant for tax collection in specific sub-metropolitan councils had found their way to areas, where they should not be.

Monies collected with such unauthorized receipts end up in the pockets of individuals and are never accounted for. The MCE said “this is plain criminality by some unscrupulous persons to defraud the unsuspecting public in the name of the assembly.”

Mr. Assibey-Antwi said the matter had been referred to the police for appropriate action against the offenders. The KMA has also directed the sub-metropolitan councils not to enter into any ‘build, operate and transfer (B.O.T.)’ or public-private partnership agreement without complying with proper procedure.

The MCE said a steering committee had been put in place to evaluate all technical and financial proposals received in respect of B.O.T. projects to make sure that there was transparency.